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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1702W—continued
Prisons
20. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place in the number of (a) males and (b) females imprisoned since 1991. [50409]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The number of people imprisoned, which includes those remanded in custody, was 45,626 in 1991 of whom 44,082 were males and 1,544 female. In 2005 there were 76,190 people imprisoned, 71,676 males and 4,514 females.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the drop-out rate for prison officers within two years of recruitment at each prison; and if he will make a statement. [44352]
Fiona Mactaggart: The proportion of prison officers leaving the service within two years of beginning their careers as officers is 11.2 per cent. This figure includes both newly recruited officers and existing Prison Service staff who converted to the officer grade. The nature of the prison officer role means that the Prison Service considers it acceptable that eight out of nine new officers stay in post for more than two years. A breakdown of the drop-out rates within two years of starting, by geographic area is shown in the table. Highest drop out rates are recorded in London and the South East, where more competitive and fluid employment markets operate.
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Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison wings, having been closed awaiting refurbishment, have been reopened this year without work being completed. [47569]
Mr. Charles Clarke: No prison wings have been taken out of use for refurbishment and brought back into use this year without any work being completed on them.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been (a) tested and (b) found positive for alcohol at each prison for each month since April 2005; and if he will make a statement. [48417]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collated centrally.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) passive and (b) active dogs are deployed at each prison; and if he will make a statement. [48421]
Fiona Mactaggart: Passive and active drug dogs are a part of the Prison Service drug supply reduction policy. The following table shows how many of each type of dogs are deployed at each prison in England and Wales.
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Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving staff in the Prison Service are in receipt of a Long Service Award; and if he will make a statement. [48425]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, approximately 2,900 staff are eligible for the Director General's Long Service Award, having served 25 years in the Prison Service (or 25 years in the civil service, with 20 of those years in the Prison Service).
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to reduce the supply of (a) controlled drugs and (b) mobile telephones into HMP Wandsworth; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [48510]
Fiona Mactaggart: Wandsworth has developed robust anti-trafficking measures, using intelligence and visible deterrence including wall patrols and dogs. All visitors to prisoners are warned of the risks they are taking if they try to smuggle drugs. All visitors are subject to standard search procedures using prison staff and passive drug dogs. The prison works closely with the Metropolitan police in action against organised drug gangs. Regular searching of prison staff takes place to check that contraband is not being brought into the prison. Intelligence is assessed against individuals suspected of corruption. A substantial number of mobile phones have been seized over the past 12 months as a result of a combination of searching and intelligence. The number of mobile phones seized has impacted on the trade of drugs. This is evidenced by a year on year reduction in the Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) rate. MDT failure rates in November 2004 were at 18 per cent. compared with 12 per cent. in November 2005.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons in (a) England and (b) the north east hold more prisoners than their normal certified level; and by how much each is over its limit. [48662]
Fiona Mactaggart: As at 3 February 2006 there were no prisons in (a) England or (b) the north east that held more prisoners than their certified operational capacity.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of prisoners in (a) England and (b) London who (i) enter and (ii) successfully complete education training and employment upon release. [48703]
Fiona Mactaggart:
The Home Office routinely collects data on the proportions of prisoners in England and Wales reporting having employment, training or
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education (ETE) arranged on release. The latest figures for November 2005 show that 35 per cent. of prisoners about to be discharged reported having ETE arranged.
The figure for prisoners being released from London prisons (not the same as returning to live in London) is also 35 per cent. It should be noted that the figures refer to the proportions of prisoners reporting having ETE arranged and no checks are routinely made to examine the proportions who actually do enter ETE on release or how soon after release this occurs. No information is currently collected on the proportions or numbers of discharged prisoners who successfully complete any training or education after release or how long discharged prisoners stay in employment.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in (a) England and (b) each prison in London entered education training and employment in each year since 1996–97. [48705]
Fiona Mactaggart: There are no records kept of the numbers entering education, training or employment (ETE) in custody. Education is measured in outcomes as opposed to entries, and employment and training in prisons are not measured as specific activities during custody. Information is recorded for prisoners leaving establishments in England with ETE arranged.
ETE outcomes also include those who attended FRESHSTART appointments at Jobcentre Plus. FRESHSTART is the initiative whereby prisoners who do not have a job or training place to go to on release are linked into employment, training and benefits advice and support immediately after release. Figures for ETE are available for the last three years and are recorded in the table.
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Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released from Bronzefield Prison, Ashford in each month since it opened. [49872]
Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the table are for final discharges only and do not include discharges to court or hospital.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the underestimate of the overall cost of the building programme at HMP Chelmsford; why the underestimate was discovered as early as one month after building work commenced; what steps are to be taken to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement. [48369]
Fiona Mactaggart [holding answer 2 February 2006]: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is currently carrying out a review to establish the reasons for the underestimate. The outcome of this review should be available early in the new financial year.
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